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SPECIAL GEOGRAPHY 



OF THE STATE OF 











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A SUPPLEMENT TO 



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A PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 

A State is a political division, having an organized government of 
own, and having jurisdiction over a definitely prescribed territory or tract 
country. 

A CONGRESSIONAL TOWNSHIP. A SECTION 

N N 



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A County is a subdivision of a State for purposes of local government 

A Congressional Township is a tract of country six miles square, 
according to Government survey. It is divided into 36 sections, these bring 
numbered according to a definite system shown in the diagram A Section 
is a square mile. 

A Range is a row of townships extending north and south. The ranges 
are distinguished by numbering them both ways— east and west— from a 
given line, known as a Principal Meridian of the United States land survey. 

The townships in each range in Nebraska are numbered north from a 
given east and west line, known as a base-line. (See map.) 

Nebraska is surveyed upon the 6th Principal Meridian of the 
United States survey, with the south line of the State (Parallel -10 N.) as 
the baseline. 

The 6th Principal Meridian is a line surveyed due north from the 
south line of the State. It passes between Thayer and Jefferson Counties in 
the southern part of Nebraska, and through Cedar County in the northern 
part. (See map.) 

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GEOGRAPHY OF NEBRASKA. 




POSITION AND SIZE.— Nebras- 
ka is situated near the center of the 
United States. It has Dakota on the 
north, Iowa on the east, Kansas on tlie 
south, and Colorado and Wyoming on 
the west. 

It is situated between the parallels of 
40° and 43° north latitude, and between 
9.5° 25' and 104° west longitude. 

In shape, it is an irregular rectangle, extending nearly 400 
miles from east to west, and 200 miles from north to soulh. 

Its area is about 7G,000 square miles. 

It is in the same latitude .is Pennsylvania and the southern half o£ Xcv. 
York. The sc.utlieni line of tlie Stiite, if extended east to the Atlantic, would 
pass a little north of the capitals of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, and a short 
distance south of tlie capitals of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The north 
line of the .State is in about the same latitude as Niagara Falls and Ports- 
moutli. New Hampshire. 

Its area is greater than that of the entire New England States, about 
double liiat of Ohio, and once and a half thiit of England. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES.— Nebraska is located in a 
central position on the great slope that rises from the Mississippi 
River to the base of the Rocky Mountains. Beginning at tlie 
southeastern corner of the State with an elevation of 1,000 feet 
above the sea, the surface gently rises towards the north and west, 
till, at the opposite corner of the State, the land has attained an 
average elevation of 3,500 feet. The mean elevation of the 
whole surface is about 1,800 feet. 

The surface consists of river-bottoms, rolling prairies, and 
table-lands. The river-bottoms are nearly level, or very gently 
undulating, and vary in width from six to ten miles along the 
larger streams to a mile or less on the smaller. 

The table-lands are mostly in the central and western parts, 
and occupy the higliest land between' the larger streams. In or 
along the edges of these plains the smaller streams have their 
sources. 

Undulating grassy plains, called prairies, cover the greater 
part of tlie State. Forest-trees abound in the vicinity of the 
streams, and on the bluffs and in the gorges for miles back of the 
Missouri. 

The upland prairie sometimes ends abruptly at the river- 
bottom in a series of clay bluffs, which are cut into fantastic 
shapes by the rains of centuries, their rounded tops covered with 
grass, and their sides dotted with trees. In some places the flat 
" first bottom " along the stream rises imperceptibly into a 
"second bottom," which in turn gradually blends by graceful 
undulations into the high prairie. 

The larger streams are found in channels but little below 
the level of the bottom-laud ; but the smaller streams have in the 
course of time cut deep, narrow, tortuous channels, in which they 
are hidden from the eye of the traveler until he is close upon them. 

RIVERS.— The largest river is the Missouri, a broad, 
rapid, turliulent stream, flowing along the eastern border, and re- 
ceiving ultimately all the drainage of the State. 

The Platte, which comes into the State from Wyoming and 



Colorado, is a broad, shallow, swift-flowing river. Taking a gen- 
erally eastern course through the whole length of the State, it 
makes its way among numerous islands, and is constantly chang- 
ing its tortuous channels, as it flows over its soft, sandy bed. 

Owing to the general slope of the surface, the Platte re- 
ceives no important tributaries from the south, but many from 
the north. 

The lioup, the largest affluent of the Platte, rises in the 
western central part of the State, and, after receiving many 
triljutaries, empties into the Platte about a hundred miles from 
the Missouri. 

Tlie Elkhorn, another important stream, rises in the northern 
central part of the State, and, taking a general southeasterly 
course, empties into the Platte below its greatest southern bend. 

The Niobrara, an affluent of the Missouri, rises in Wyoming 
Territory, and, after traversing the entire northern part of the 
State, flows into the Missouri at the i^oiut where that river first 
becomes the State's boundary. 

The Republican, which, through its northern affluents, 
drains the southwestern part of the State, rises in Colorado, and, 
after flowing through the southern tier of counties more than 
half the length of the State, passes down through Kansas and 
empties into the Kansas River. 

Tlie Nemaha, the Big Blue, and the Little Blue, with 
their tributaries, water the southeastern part of the State. Tlie 
general direction of these streams is toward the southeast, fol- 
lowitig the slope of the surface. The only important exception 
to this is Salt Creek, a small stream about fifty miles long, which 
flows in a. northeasterly direction into the Platte, about thirty 
miles above its mouth. With this exception, the watershed 
which divides the Platte from the streams flowing southeast into 
the Republican and the Missouri is very near to the Platte. 

The streams are generally rapid, but, on account of the uni- 
form descent of the surface, waterfalls are rare. The average fall 
of many of the smaller streams is five to seven feet in a mile. 

CLIMATE. — The Climate of Nebraska is temperate, dry, 
and healthful, though subject to some extremes of heat and cold 
as well as of moisture and dryness. The winters are usually cold 
and dry ; scarcely any rain and but little snow falls during this 
season. The principal rains are in the period from March to the 
end of July. During the six months beginning with March 
twice as much rain falls, on the average, as during the other half 
of the year. 

The eastern half of the State has an average annual rainfall of 30 inches ; 
the western half,, about 30. The summer rains fall mostly in the night, 
and seldom during the day. 

The atmosphere is pure, clear, and almost entirely free from 
fogs or driving mists ; and there being but little standing water, 
it is remarkably free from malaria. 

The average temperature of the three winter months is 20° P. ; that of 
tlie three summer months, 72° P. 

During the fall and spring the average temperature is higher than that of 
eastern States on the same latitude. But when the days are hottest the nights 
are unusually cool ; the heat which accumulates during the day radiates into 
space rapidly through the clear air. 



Copyright, 1879, by James Monteith. 



GEOGRAPHY OF NEBRASKA. 



The strong winds of spring and summer, though often un- 
Ijleasant, serve to mitigate the intensity of the hot season. 

SOIL. — The soil of Nebraska is of gi'eat depth and richness. 
Its basis is a tine sand mingled with day and vegetable mold in 
varying proportions. 

The soil is generally mellow, easily worked, and free from 
stones or other obstructions to cultivation. Porous enough, so 
that water will not stand long on the surface, it yet retains mois- 
ture remarkably well in the form available for growing plants. 

Most of the land is undulating, so as to furnish good sur- 
face drainage, and in all such situations the soil can be worked 
within a few hours after a heavy rain. 

Farming, in its several branches, is the leading productive 
industry of the State. All kinds of crops grown elsewhere in the 
same latitude are produced readily and in great abundance. 

Grain-grcwing is the leading industry in the eastern part 
of the State, and stock-raising in the western. 

The crop of 1878 was estimated : 



The Crop. Bnshcla. 

Wheat 26.000.(100 

Corn 4(i,000,U00 

Oats 9,000,000 



Bushels. 

Rye 3.000.000 

Barley S,000,000 

Potatoes 3,000,000 



Cattle, 500.000 head, valued at $7,000,000. 
Hogs, 700,000, " " ; ,000,000. 

Besides these, flax, sorghum, broom-corn, sweet potatoes, and 
many other vegetables are largely grown. 

The native grass, which everywhere covers the soil not 
ijroken up for cultivation, is an important source of agricultural 
wealth. In the western part Qf the State, where the land is not 
taken up for cultivation, immense numbers of cattle are herded 
on these pastures, receiving very little other food the year round. 

On these high plains the grass which springs up in the 
early part of the season, is, during the dry weather of autumn, 
changed to a kind of hay without being cut, and thus furnishes 
considerable winter food for stock. 

The Herd Law in this State prohibits persons from allowing stock to run 
at large, so that it is not necessary lo fence grain-fields. Stock must be kept 
in fenced pastures or herded on the open prairie. There are but few fences in 
the State, a circumstance which materially reduces the cost of farming. 

Fruit-growing, wherever tried for a sufficient length of 
time and with intelligent skill, has proved highly successful. 
Apples, peaches, cherries, grapes, currants, and other small fruits 
are grown of excellent quality in the older parts of the State. 
Wild fruits, plums, grapes, berries, etc., grow luxuriantly in the 
groves along the streams. 

The forest trees most commonly seen are cottonwood, elm. soft maple, 
white ash, gi'con ash, linden, several kinds of oaks, box-elder, black walnut, 
hickory, and red cedar. 

In the vicinity of the present forest growth, young timber 
s])rings up when fire is kept out for a few years, but in most of 
the prairie land groves must be planted. This has been done 
in many places, and thousands of artificial groves are found in 
all parts of the State. 

The favorite kinds for planting are maple, ash, elm, walnut, box-elder, 
and cottonwood. 

Wild Game was at one time abundant, but the larger kinds 
have been driven into the more thinly settled portions of the 
State. There buffalo, elk, deer, and antelope are still numerous. 
In the settled portions prairie chickens and quail are abundant, 
and great numbers of water-fowl are found along the streams at 
certain seasons. 

manufacturing is yet in its infancy. Yet here and there establishments 



are springing up, the harbingers of the good time coming when the vast water- 
power now going to waste .shall bc^ utilized in productive industry, 

Flouring-mill products and agricultural inacliinory arc now the leading 
manufactures. 

Details on this topic will be found in connection with a description of the 
cities and towns. 

MINERALS.— The mineral products of this State arc 
neither nnmeious nor important. Tiie eastern portion of the 
State is underlaid by the coal measures, but, though many small 
seams have been opened in places, no workable beds have yet been 
discovered. 

In Lancaster County, near the State capital, are abundant salt-wells, Init 
as yet they have not lieeu utilized except to a limited extent. 

Excellent building-stone is found in many parts of the State. Hydraulic 
cement, potters" clay, and lilhographic stone liave also been discovered. 

History. — Nebraska was visited by French traders in 
1G73. In 1083 La Salle claimed it for the French crown. It was 
ceded to Spain in 1763, along with Louisiana ; and in 1800 ceded 
back to France. In 1803 it was a part of the " Louisiana pur- 
chase," for which the United States paid France $15,000,000. 

The first permanent settlement was made in 1853, near 
the Missouri. In 1854 the territory of Nebraska was organized 
by an act of Congress. At this time it extended from Kan.sas to 
the British Possessions, and from Iowa to the Rocky Mountains, 
including more than 350,000 square miles. It was reduced to its 
present limits by the formation of Colorado, Dakota, and Idaho. 

The first territorial governor was Francis Burt, appointed 
in 1854. In the same year the territorial capital was located at 
Omaha, where the first legislature assembled in January, 1855. 

The State Government was organized in 18G7, and the 
cajiital removed to Lincohi, where it has since remained. 

The population of Nebraska increased from about 39,000 in 1860 to more 

than 129,000 in 1870 ; and l)y the State census taken in 1878 it was shown to 
be 313,748. 

The only Indian reservation now within the State is that of the Omahas 
and Winnebagoes, located on the Missonii, between Burt and Dakota counties. 
The number of Indians on this lescrvation in 1878 was 2.500. 

COMMERCIAL AND TRANSPORTATION FA- 
CILITIES. — The Missoui-i is the only navigable river, and this 

is but little used. 

Eight different railroads reach to or into Nebraska, to 
carry away her surplus jiroducts, and the State has ■within her 
own borders more than 1,350 miles of railroad, as follows : 

. Miles. 

Lnion Pacific main line (in State), Omaha lo State line 4.5U 

Branches : Omaha and Kepublii-an Valley, from Omaha to Osceola. 110 

Burlington and Missouri Kiver, in Nebraska, main line, from Platts- 

mouth to Kearney ] 'J 1 

Branches : Om.iha to Oreapolis 17 

Crete to Beatrice ;!0 

Hastings to Bloomington 7o 

Nebraska Railway, from Nemaha City to York 140 

The Sioux City and Pacific, from Blair to ^^'isner . 78 

The Omaha and Northwestern. Omaha to Tekamah 47 

The Atchison and Nebraska, Lincoln to Colorado line 110 

The St. .Joseph and Denver, Hastings to State line 8 1 

Covington and Black Hills, Dakota to Ponea. 2'i 

GOVERNMENT.— The Legislature is composed of a 
senate ef thirty members, and a house of rein-esentatives of 
eighty-four members. Members of the legislature are elected for 
two years, and one regular session is held during that time. 

The executive officers are governor, lieutenanl-governor, 
secretary <'f slate, iiiiditor, superintendent of public iiistriictjoii, 
attorney-general, and land commissioner, each elected for two 
years. 



/ 



GEOGRAPHY OF NEBRASKA. 



The judicial power of the State is vested iu the Supreme 
Court, cousisting of three members, the senior member actiug as 
cliief-justice ; six district judges, one for each district ; county 
courts, police magistrates, and justices of the peace. 

All judicial ofi&cers are elected by the people — supreme 
judges for six years, district judges for four years, the others for 
two years. 

The right to vote is given to all males who are twenty-one 
vcars of age, wiio are citizens of the United States, or have de- 
clared their intention to become such, and have resided in the 
State six months, in tlie county forty days consecutively, and in 
the precinct ten days next preceding the election. Unmarried 
women having taxable property are allowed to vote at school 
meetings and to hold school oflBces. 

The State has one member of Congress aud two United States 
senators. 

EDUCATION.— In the State Constitution ample pro- 
vision is made for an extended aud comprehensive system of pub- 
lic-school education. 

A permanent school fund is provided from the sale or 
lease of two sections of land in each township. The whole 
amount of this fund in 1878, represented by money invested in 
county and State bonds, unpaid princiiial of lands sold, aud lands 
leased, was over two million dollars. 

Added to the annual income from this fund are the pi'oceeds 
of a State tax, aud the whole is apportioned to the counties in 
proportion to the number of children between the ages of five and 
twenty-one. 

The •whole amount of school land still unsold is over 
two million acres, none of which can be sold for less than seven 
dollars per acre. 

The State University has a landed endowment of 134,000 
acres. 

The school affairs of tlie State are under the direction of a 
State Superintendent, County Superintendents, elected by the 
people everj' two years, and district boards of education elected 
for three years. 

In 1878 there were 2.690 school districts, 3,730 teachers, and 104,017 chil- 
dren of school age in the State. 

Besides the conamon schools, graded and ungraded, the 
State supports a University with fourteen instructors, and a 
Normal School with eight. 

The University, located at Lincoln, has two departments, 
the Literary and the Agricultural, now opeu. In both of these 
institutions tuition is free. 

Other schools for higher education are Doane College at 
Crete, ISTeliraska College at Nebraska City, Creighton College at 
Omaha, and a number of private academies. 

The Humane and Charitable Institutions comjnise a 
Hospital for the Lisane, located at Lincoln ; an Listitution for the 
education of the Deaf and Dumb at Omaha ; a School for the 
Blind at Nebraska City ; and a State Reform School at Kearney. 

The State Penitentiary, a large and well-managed insti- 
tution, is located at the State capital. 

CITIES. — Omaha is the largest city and the commercial metropolis of the 
State. Bfautilully situated on the Missouri River, it is well laid out and 
handsomely built. Some of the finer buildings are the city high school and 
Creighton College, which nobly crown the heights in the rear of the citv, and 
in the city the United States Post-office Building, a massive and substantial 
structure. 



Several important manufacturing enterprises have been undertaken and 
are here carried on with iirofit. The works for smelting the precious metals 
ai-e the largest in the country. In them business was done during 1878 to 
the amount of $3,700,000. Omaha has a large linseed-oil mill, a nail fac- 
tory, a dozen cigar factories, white-lead works, pork-packing establishments, 
extensive cattle yards, and numerous other minor establishments. In 1878 
its wholesale trade reached nearly $10,000,000, and its elevators handled 
4,000,000 bushels of grain. 

Seven lines of railroads reach it from different directions. Population, 
25,000. 

Lincoln, the capital of the State, is situated on the east side of Salt Creek, 
in Lancaster County. Though but twelve years old, it has attained the rank 
of second city in the State, and is rapidly growing. The Burlington and 
Missouri Kiver Railroad passes through it, and sends off here branches to 
York on the west, and Brownville in the southeast. The State University, 
State Lunatic Hospital, United States Court-house Building, the State Peni- 
tentiary, and the Lincoln City High School are some of the more attractive 
buildings. Lincoln merchants are building up a large wholesale and retail 
trade with the east and with all parts of the .State. Population, 10.000. 

Nebraska City, the third in population in the State, is situated in Otoe 
County, at, the point where the Nebraska Railroad crosses the Missouri to con- 
nect with the southern branch of the Burlington Railroad in Iowa. It is one 
of the oldest towns in the State, and does a large manufacturing and shipping 
business. The city contains a number of fine public-school buildings, a theo- 
logical seminary, and a literary college. Just outside the city is located the 
State School for the Blind. Population, 5,000, 

Fremont is situated in the Platte Valley, where it is joined by the EIL- 
horn Valley. It has two railroads, the Sioux City and Pacific and the Union 
Pacific, a considerable manufacturing investment, and a large shipping trade. 
Population, 3,000. 

Hastings, at the junction of St. Joseph and Denver Railroad, and of the 
Republican Valley Railroad with the Burlington road. It has a beautiful site, 
and is Iniilding up rapidlj'. Population 3,000, 

Flattsmouth is situated on the Missouri, where it is crossed by the B. and 
M. R. R. The railroad machine-shops are located here. The surveyor-gen- 
eral's office is in Plattsmouth. Population, 2,500. 

Falls City, on Atchison and Nebraska Railroad, is the county seat of 
Richardsiin County, and a promising town. Population, 1,800. 

Grand Island, the terminus of the eastern section of the U. P. R. R., is 
finely situated on a gentle swell of the Platte Valley, and is the entrepot of 
supplies for a large territory Ijing to the north and northwest. Population, 
1,700. 

Kearney is situated near the site of Fort Kearney, for many years a 
government post, but now abandoned. At this point the B. and M. R. R. 
joins the Union Pacific. Population, 1,600, 

Columbus, the county seat of Platte County, is on the Union Pacific Rail- 
road, at the junction of the Loup with the Platte. It is a thriving town, and 
is the shipping point for a large territory north and northwest of it. Popula- 
tion, 1,5C0. 

Blair, the county seat of Washington County, is a beautiful town at the 
junction of the S. C. and P. R. R.. and the 0. and N. W. R. R. It has some 
handsome residences and a fine school-house. Population, 1,500. 

Beatrice, jiresent terminus of branch of B. and M. R. R., has quarries 
of superior building-stone and hydraulic cement. The county seat of Gage 
County. Population, 1,500, 

Crete, at junction of railroad to Beatrice with the B. and M. R. R.. 
has a large retail trade. Doano College, a thriving institution of learning 
under the auspices of the Congregationalists, is located here. Population, 
1,400. 

Seward, on Nebraska Railroad. 30 miles west of Lincoln, is the county seat 
of Seward County. It has two flouring-mills. two banks, a steam elevator, 
and is located in a rich farming section. Population, 1,200, 

West Point, the county seat of Cuming County, on Sioux City and Pa- 
cific Railroad, is a growing town, with paper-mill and large creamery. Popu- 
lation. 1.000. 

Fairbury, the county seat of Jefferson County, is on the St. J. and Denver 
Railroad, has a large flouring-mill, and is one of the handsomest and most 
compactly built towns in the State. Population, 1,000. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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HOLLINGER 
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MILL RUN F3-15-t2 



